Brush or tool holder



' April 11, 1944. Nc 2,346,570

\ BRUSH OR TOOL HOLDER Filed May 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I; 1 4 Louis Francis April .11, 1944. L. FRANCIS 2,346,570

BRUSH OR TOOL HOLDER grwc/wbo'a Louis fizz/nods April 11, 1944.

L. FRANCIS BRUSH OR TOOL HOLDER Filed May 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllll Zauz's Francis handle of some sort.

Patented Apr. 11, 1944 BRUSH on root. HOLDER Louis Francis, New York, N." Y., assignor to Breinig Brothers, Inc., Hoboken, N. J.

Application May 18, 1942, Serial No. 443,521.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a brush or tool holder.

An object of this invention is to provide a device which will facilitate the painting,lscraping, puttying or other work performed by a workman on surfaces where a ladder, cradle or scafiold will not permit the workman to 'conveniently do the job. As an example, in the painting, scraping or other treatment of the side of a vessel, it is the practice in some instances for the workman to perform certain of his duties from a small boat, or to work on the side of the boat while suspended in a'cradle. Instances 'of this kind require constant shifting of the small boat or cradle due to the fact that in one position of the latter, the workman can only reach a very small area of the surface to be treated. Where there is an overhang above the waterline, the workman frequently finds that a suspended cradle'will be positioned so far away from the surface to be treated that he cannot'reach the surface with an ordinary brush or tool and the brush or tool must be'secured to an extensible It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a brush or tool holder which is so constructed that the brush or tool can be manipulated in the same manner as when held in the hand and which will permit the workman to reach remote spots.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which may be used by the workman not only to contact remote surfaces, but which may be used to treat or operate on floors without stooping.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of this kind means to prevent the paint or other fluid from running down the extensible holder.

A further object of this invention is to provide an elongated handle which is formed with a fork at its outer end between which a brush or tool carrier is rockably mounted, the carrier being resiliently held at an oblique angle to the length of the handle and the inclination of the carrier being manually adjustable fro of the handle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which may be constructed out of Wood for the most part so that it will be light enough in weight as notto place an undue strain upon the workman.

the inner portion referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be,

resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a detail side elevation partly broken away and insection of a brush and tool holder carrier,

With the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the device,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a bottom plan of the brush or tool Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a modified formof this device,

.ly roundin transverse section and is formed of complementary half round sections it and I1 which are glued or otherwise secured together at their meeting edges I8. The handle I5 is provided at its outer end with a fork IS which is .formed by bending the complementary sections 16 and l! outwardly and then inserting a wedge 20 between the inner portions of the fork IS. A spacer member 2| is also disposed between the arms of the fork I9 and is secured therebetween F by means of a fastening member 22. Preferably,

the spacing member 2| is round in transverse section and is disposed closely adjacent one edge of each of the arms of the fork, as shown in Figure 2.

A brush or tool carrier 23 is disposed between the arms of the fork 9 at the outer or wide ends and is pivotally mounted on a bolt 24 threadably engaging one end thereof so that the arms of the fork l9 may be pulled together, in order to 55 hold the carrier 23 against rocking movement The two supports ,21 and 28 are'substantially narrower in width than the width of the body 26. Preferably, the body 26 is provided with a pair of cylindrical bearing bushings 29 through which;

the pivot member 24 is adapted to engage. The

carrier 23 may be formed out of wood and the bearings 29 formed out of metal or the like. The

body 23 at the opposite ends thereof and adw jacentthe outer side edges of the supporting members 21 and 28 is formed with grooves orhandle is preferably provided with an axial bore 44 which constitutes a fluid chamber wherein the fluid running down the inside of the fork I9 is adapted to be received. The wedge is provided with a passage 45 communicating with the bore 44 and a flanged sleeve or thimble 46 is disposed in the wedge 20 at the outer end of the passage 45.

Referring now to Figures '1 and8, the numeral 15a designates a handle structure similar in every detail to the handle l5 which is provided at its outer end portion with a fork lila similar to the fork 19. A wedge member 23a is interposed be- .tween thearms of the fork l9a at their inner ends and a spacing member 2 la, is also interposed between the arms of the fork 19a, at a point inwardlyor rearwardly from the outer divergent channels which are disposed on an oblique angle with respect to the opposite faces of the body i 23 and of the supporting members 21 and 28.

The grooves 30 are provided for the purpose of conducting paint or other liquid which may run down the carrier 23, and by providing the grooves 33 the'liquid will be directed into the space between the arms of the fork l9.

The carrier 23 is adapted'to have a brush or tool mounted on the upper flat side 31 thereof and the handle H of the brush or tool is adapted to be removably and resiliently held on the carrier 23 by means of a pair of looped springs 32 and 33. The spring 32 is the rearmost spring which is adapted to engage about the supporting member or arm 21, and the spring 32 engages in a recess 34 provided in the arm 21 opposite from the flat face 3| thereof. The arm 28 is formed with a recess within which the spring 33 is adapted to engage. The recesses 34 and 35 provide a means whereby the handleI-I of the brush B will be held resiliently against endwise movement with respect to the carrier 23. H r

The carrier 23 is adapted to be yieldably held in a position at an oblique'angle to the length of the handle l5 by means of a pair of springs 33 and .31. The spring 36 hasone end thereof engaged with a hook 38 which is secured to the arm 21 of the carrier23, and the opposite end of the spring 36'is engaged with a selected one of several hooks 39 which are carried by the handlel5. The hooks 39 are disposed in spaced apart relation along the length of the handle l 5 so that the spring 36 may be tensioned to thedesired degree. The spring 31 has one end thereof engaged with a hook 40 carried by the forward end of the arm 28, and the opposite end of the spring 31 is engaged with a selected one of several books 4| secured to the handle l5 diametrically opposite the hooks 39. y

In order to provide a means whereby the carrier 23 may be manually adjusted, I have provided 'a flexible strap 42 which is secured at one end to the hook 38 and is trained over the spacing member 21' and then extended lengthwise along the handle 15 to substantially the rear end thereof. A second strap 43 has one end thereof secured to the hook 40 and is trained over the spacing member 21 which constitutes a guide member for the two straps 42 and 43 andthe strap 43 is then extended downwardly along the length of the handle l5.

In actual practice the two straps 42 and 43 may be constructed as a single strap which is looped upon itself and which has the opposite ends thereof secured to the hooks 38 and 40. The

ends of thefork l9a.

A carrier 23a is rockably mounted on a pivot member 2411 and the carrier 23a is similar in every detail to the carrier 23. shown in detail in Figure 6. The carrier 23a has mounted thereabout a pair of article clamping or holding springs 32a and 33a so that the desired articles, such as'a brush or tool may be removably held on the upper side of the carrier 23a. The carrier 23a in the present instanceis yieldably held at an-oblique angle to the length of. the handle l5a by means of a single spring formed of spring sections 41 and 48. The inneror rear ends of'the spring sections and 48 are integral with each other and are secured by means of a fastening device 49 to the spacer 2 la. The outer end of the spring section 41 is secured to a hook 38a and the outer end of the spring section 48 is secured to a hook The spring section 41 is substantially shorter in length than-the spring section 48 as shown in Figure '7. The carrier 23a is adapted to be manually adjusted with respect to its angle in relation to the length of the handle l5a by means of a pair of flexible straps 42a and 43a. The straps 42a. and 43a may beformed'as an integral strap and the strap may have one end 1 thereof engaged with the hook 380. and the other end engaged with the hook 40a.

In actual practice the two spring'sections 41 and 48 may be either one of the springs 35 or 31 and such springs may be bent'under the spacing member Zla and then engaged with the two hooks 38a and 40a. The handle 15a is provided with pairs of spaced apart hooks 39a and 4la so that if desired the structure shown in Figure 7 may be converted to the structure shown in Figure 1. The handle l5a is formed with a longitudinal bore or fluid receiving chamber 44a. and the wedge 200. may also be formed with a lengthwise passage 45a communicating with the bore 40a. A thimble or flanged sleeve 46a is mounted in the outer end portion of the wedge 20aand provides a metallic guide for the fluid entering the passage 45a. The handle 15a. is formed of two half round sections similar to the two sectionsshown in Figure 11, and these sections may be glued together and may also be tightly held by means of a wire band 50. There may be as many of these wire bands along the length of the handle 15a as may be desired, and the same is true with respect to the bands along the length of the handle 15.

Referring now to Figures 9, 10 and 11, the numeral |5b designates generally an elongated tubular handle which is provided at its outer end with a fork IElb similar to the fork l9 and a carrier 23b which is identical with the carrier 23 shown. in Fi ure 6. is rockablv mounted between 2,348,570 the-arms 'of thefork 19b. The handle H of a tool or brush may be releasably and resiliently held on the carrier 231) by means of a pair of ring-shaped spring clamping members 325 and 33b. The handle I!) is provided with a longitudinal bore 44b, and in order to provide a means whereby the carrier23b may be yieldably held in an oblique angle with respect to the length of the handle I52), I have provided a sprin 5| which is disposed in thebore 44b and which has the outer end thereof secured to a wire 52. The Wire 52 extends outwardly through the passage 45b in the wedge 20b and also extends through a flanged sleeve 46b which is mounted in the outer end of the passage 45b.

The outer end of the wire 52 is secured to a hook or eye 381) which is secured to the carrier 23b. The other end of the spring 5| has one end of a wire 53 secured thereto and the wire 53 extends rearwardly and is secured to an eye 54 carried by a plug 55. The plug 55 is seated in a recess 56 formed in the inner end of the handle I51) and, preferably, a wire band 51 is engaged about the inner end portion of the handle |5b so that tension on the plug 55 will not tend to split the handle |5b.

A second spring 58 is disposed in the bore 44b inwardly from the spring 5|. The outer end of the spring 58 has secured thereto one end of a wire 59 which extends outwardly through the bore 441) and through the interior of the spring 5|. The outer end of the wire 59 is secured to an eye or hook 40b carried by the carrier 23b. The inner end of the spring 58 is secured directly to the eye 54. The wire 53 as shown in Figure extends through the interior of the spring 58. In this manner, the two springs 5| and 58 may be stretched or tensioned to the desired degree under the action of a pair of flexible straps 42b and 431) which are secured to the hooks 38b and 40b and extend lengthwise along the handle |5b. By providing the springs 5| and 58 which are spaced apart lengthwise along the handle |5b, the springs 5| and 58 may be relatively small in diameter so that they will not require a large diameter handle.

The three forms of the invention herein disclosed operate in substantially the same manner. A brush or other tool is removably secured to the carrier 23 by means of the yieldable clamping members 32 and 33. In Figure 1 the bristles of the brush B extend from the end 28 of the carrier 23, although it will be understood that if desired the brush B may be reversed so that the bristles will extendfrom the end of the arm 21. The brush may be dipped in the paint or other coating material and may then be engaged with the work, the workman grasping the handle I5 and also grasping both of the straps 42 and 43 in one hand. This one hand may also be engaged about the handle 15. The resilient mounting of the carrier 23 by means of the springs 36 and 37 provides a yieldable cushioning means which will permit rocking of the brush B with the carrier 23 on the outer end of the handle l5. This rocking of the carrier 23 will permit the desired pressure being applied to the bristles of the brush during the painting or coating operation,

It will, of course, be understood that any other suitable tool, such as a putty knife, scraper or the like, may be mounted on the carrier 23 in order that the desired work may be contacted with the selected tool. With a holder as hereinbefore described, a workman will be able to treat surfaces which are hard to get at and which fre- 'quently cannot be contacted without some sort of an extension on the handle of a tool or brush.

Ordinarily, it has been the practice to tightly fasten the handle of a tool or brush on a long stick and contact the work in this manner. However, such extension of a handle is not entirely satisfactory as it does not permit the workman to engage the work in substantially the same manner as the workwould be engaged ifthe workman had had the handle of the 'brush or tool in his hand. With a holder as hereinbefore described the brush or tool may be manipulated in the same manner as if the brush or tool were held in the hand of the workman.

What I claim is:

1. A brush or tool holder comprising an elongated handle, a fork extending lengthwise of said handle, a spacer member between the arms of said fork, a carrier pivoted between the arms of said fork outwardly of said spacer member, means engaging the carrier on opposite sides of the fulcrum thereof yieldably maintaining said carrier at a predetermined angle, a pair of flexible straps secured to the opposite ends of said carrier and slidably engaging over said spacer member whereby said carrier may be manually adjusted against the tension of said yieldable means and means integrally formed with said carrier comprising drip conductors.

2. A brush or tool holder comprising an elongated handle, a carrier pivotally carried by one end of said handle, said handle having an axial passage, a pair of spaced apart springs in said passage, a plug closing the rear end of said passage, means securing the rear end of the rearmost of said springs to said plug, means extending through the rearmost spring securing the rear end of the outermost spring to said plug, means extending outwardly of said passage securing the outer end of said outermost spring to one end of said carrier, and means extending outwardly through the interior of said outermost spring securing the outer end of said rearmost spring to the other end of said carrier and means integrally formed with said carrier comprising drip conductors.

3. A brush or tool holder comprising an elongated handle, a fork formed on the outer end of said handle, a spacer secured between the arms of said fork rearwardly of the outer ends thereof, a carrier pivotally mounted between the outer ends of the arms of said fork, yieldable means secured to the ends of said carrier and to said spacer for yieldably holding said carrier at a predetermined angle with respect to said handle and means integrally formed with said carrier comprising drip conductors.

4. In a device for the purpose set forth, an elongated handle, a pivoted carrier mounted at one end of the handle, resilient gripping means loosely mounted on said carrier, spring tensioning means connected to the carrier on opposite sides of the pivot point thereof and with the handle, means connected to the carrier at opposite ends thereof for manually adjusting and holding the carrier at various selected angles of adjustment, and means integrally formed with said carrier comprising drip conductors.

5. A brush or tool holder comprising an elongated handle, a carrier pivotally carried by said handle, said carrier including a body formed with fluid conducting channels, oppositely extending aligned arms integral with said body, means engaging said arms detachably holding an article on said carrier, outwardly divergent yieldable means secured to said handle and to said carrier on opposite sides of the pivotal points of the latter said fork, a spacer between the arms of said fork "inwardly of said carrier, said carrier including 10 an inner body and a pair of narrow oppositely extending arms, said carrier also including fluid conducting channels formed in said body, and a pairof crossed straps engaging over said spacer and secured to the outer portions of said carrier arms, said straps providing manually operable means for rocking said carrier relative to said handle.

LOUIS FRANCIS; 

